In this episode of The Pokes and Jokes Podcast, Grace Neutral and Jen Nolan are joined by drag artist and visual creator Charity Kase for an open and deeply honest conversation about identity, drag, HIV, gender, and learning when to let go of something that once saved you.
Charity talks about losing the spark for drag, the pressure of making creativity pay the bills, and the reality of burnout after Drag Race. They reflect on British drag culture, camp, femininity, and how mainstream success can smooth the edges off something that was never meant to be polished.
The conversation moves into Charity’s experience of being diagnosed with HIV at 18, the stigma that still exists today, and why modern treatment has completely changed what living with HIV looks like. Charity speaks openly about shame, survival, chosen family, and why education matters more than fear.
There is also a candid discussion about gender expression, masculinity, body image, relationships, marriage, and learning not to make yourself smaller just to be accepted.
Funny, raw, uncomfortable, and affirming in equal measure, this is a powerful episode about being unapologetically yourself and knowing when it is time to evolve.
💍 This episode is sponsored by @regalrose — deadly detailed jewellery with a dark & dreamy twist. Use code JOKES20 for 20% off → regalrose.co.uk
Chapters
00:00:00 Cold open
00:01:41 Meeting Charity
00:03:52 Burnout and drag
00:05:10 British drag culture
00:06:13 Drag as therapy
00:07:44 HIV diagnosis
00:09:55 Chosen family
00:11:26 365 days drag
00:13:35 Going viral
00:14:25 Circus work
00:15:40 HIV stigma
00:16:48 Living with HIV
00:17:55 Education and pride
00:22:43 Drag Race reality
00:23:53 Being boxed in
00:29:50 What drag is
00:32:29 Where is the camp
00:34:30 Charity and Harry
00:38:03 Gender expression
00:41:40 Breaking binaries
00:45:28 Being palatable
00:46:24 Marriage regret
00:54:07 Health and insecurity
01:04:33 Future projects
01:09:17 Piercings and body mods
01:10:21 Sponsor shoutout
01:10:59 Final thoughts
#PokesAndJokesPodcast #CharityKase #BritishDrag #DragPodcast #QueerVoices #DragCulture #GenderExpression #LGBTQPodcast #HonestConversations
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